In contrast with the extensive research done on the connection between nutrition and physical health, the effects of nutrition on mental health are rapidly expanding. Two novel fields within psychology have developed to reflect this expansion: nutritional psychology and nutritional psychiatry.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, researchers within these fields have discovered that a healthy diet can provide significant benefits to one’s mental health and even has potential for treatment of psychiatric disorders [1]. Researchers propose multiple mechanisms through which a diet high in fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and minimally processed foods can improve mental wellbeing. One explanation is that healthy diets are rich in vitamins and minerals, which can act as cofactors and coenzymes to enhance enzyme function, such as those which are responsible for neurotransmitter synthesis. Another explanation involves the polyphenols present in plants, which promote growth of healthy gut bacteria.
Given the long-standing body of research which has implicated gut microbiome in psychiatric disorders, it is unsurprising that dietary interventions have benefits for the treatment of depression. In one study, adults with moderate to severe major depressive disorder received nutritional consulting sessions with a clinical dietitian alongside a control group who received social support interventions. Results were quantified with the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Remission, which researchers set as a MADRS score of below 10, was achieved for 32.3% of participants who received nutritional intervention, alongside only 8.0% for those of the control group [2].
The growing body of research on the effects of proper nutrition on mental wellbeing emphasizes the importance of one’s diet.
Inside the Mind 